iOS

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Apple in recent years has transformed the iPod from a digital music player into a versatile handheld gaming platform. Games now make up a large percentage of all Apps sold in the App Store. Nintendo, once the undisputed king of handheld gaming with their Gamboy console, now considers Apple a real threat to their dominance. Current iOS devices have sensors such as accelerometers and three-axis gyroscopes that allow users to control games in ways never previously thought possible. The only thing missing from all this gaming bliss is an actual physical controller.

When released, the iControlPad will be just what gamers have been waiting for: a D-pad, four real buttons and two analog controllers. The iControlPad is a peripheral that attaches to the iPod Touch or iPhone using a modular design that should insure that this peripheral will still be compatible with future iOS devices.

The iControlPad originally was going to connect to iOS devices via the dock connector but will now connect using Bluetooth instead. This change in design stems from Appleís recent patent infringement suit against Sanho over the use of MagSafe technology in Sanhoís third-party HyperMac batteries. The developers at iControlPad donít want to incur the wrath of Appleís legal department, so the switch over to Bluetooth conductivity is their way of avoiding any legal ramifications. Unfortunately, this change in design has delayed the release of the iControlPad.

Itís currently unclear if this peripheral will be compatible with official App Store games. The developer website shows demos of the iControlPad in action but the games are all being played with jailbreak emulators. That being said, the iControlPad appears to make games like Wipeout much more playable and enjoyable.

When Apple decided to make gaming on iOS devices a real priority, I was a bit skeptical at first. I did not think playing games on a touch screen device would be very much fun. I was so wrong. Although I still own a Nintendo DS Lite and a PSP, I rarely play them anymore. With the cost and convenience of App Store games and the quality of games continually increasing, I donít see myself going back to my DS or PSP anytime soon. The Nintendo 3DS looks very promising but I already own an iPhone 4 and have dozens of games for it. When the iControlPad is release, you can be sure that I will be first in line to buy one. I hope itís compatible with Super Mega Worm.